New battery passport policy expected to boost Malaysia’s EV market. (Photo: iStock)
Malaysia has introduced the country’s—and ASEAN’s first—Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery Passport Standard, requiring full lifecycle transparency from production to end-of-life reuse.
The move aims to improve battery recycling rates, accelerate progress toward national decarbonization targets, and lay the foundation for a circular battery economy. Experts say the standard will stimulate EV market growth and strengthen Malaysia’s competitive edge.
Malaysia pushes EV expansion as used battery volumes set to surge
With EV adoption rising, Malaysia faces mounting pressure to manage a fast-growing stock of end-of-life batteries. Based on the average eight- to ten-year lifespan of lithium-ion batteries, the number of batteries requiring treatment is expected to climb steadily—reaching an estimated 40,000 units by 2030 and surging to 870,000 by 2050. The projection underscores the urgency of improving battery collection, processing, and material recovery systems.
